A cruise through fabled northern lands with Joyce James Tours in 2006

Come join us for a unique tour to Norway, the Faroes and Iceland.

• The trip is scheduled from July 3^rd to 19^th, 2006, allowing travel during the summer when the daylight hours are long.

Come join us for a unique tour to Norway, the Faroes and Iceland. The trip is scheduled from July 3rd to 19th, 2006, allowing travel during the summer when the daylight hours are long.

This trip is of interest to both knitters and non-knitters alike. Their varied traditions, topography, history and location bring a special essence to each country. There will be ample opportunity to pursue individual interests--birdwatching, history, architecture, photography--let us know your preferences.

Arrangements have been made with Sally Melville to accompany our tour. Sally is a well-known and highly-respected author, teacher and designer, and has just released her most recent book, Color. She has designed several tour projects and will be available for workshops and knitting advice throughout the trip.

There will be ample opportunity to meet with local knitwear experts and designers, knitting guilds and visit mills.

Our non-stop Atlantic Airways flight takes us from Oslo to the capital city of Torshavn. The Faroes are a self-governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark and have their own language, parliament and flag. The islands share a history of settlement from Irish monks to Norse invaders. The mainland has a number of historic sites--the ruins of St. Magnus Cathedral, Olav's Church and Royksovan,a 900 year old sod-roofed farmhouse. Tinganes, the original seat of Europe's smallest parliament dates back one thousand years.

Wool is known as Faroese Gold and there is a stong tradition of the importance of knitted socks, sweaters featuring the traditional Faroese patterns and the Faroese shawl with its distinctive shaping.

Known as the most literate country in the world, offers a unique experience which has earned it a place on the United Nations World Heritage List and has been the inspiration for many Nordic sagas. Our base will be the capital city of Reykjavik, known for its many second-hand bookstores and a lively nightlife. We'll visit the surroounding areas to see geysers, waterfalls, hot springs and glaciers, plus the historic sites of Thingvellir National Park, where Althing, the open-air assembly established in 930 A.D., used to meet around the Law Rock, still visible today. Before leaving Iceland, we'll visit the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal lake with warm, mineral-rich waters, reputed to have curative properties.

Departure from Toronto to Boston where you will board your Icelandair flight to Reykjavik, capital of Iceland. (Connections are available from other Canadian and American cities.)

Day 2: Tuesday, July

After breakfast, your luggage will be collected and we'll walk across the street to Oslo Sentral, the train station for a memorable rail experience. The route between Oslo and Bergen is known as "Over the Roof of Norway" and designated by National Geographic Magazine as one of the twenty best train rides ever!

Leaving Oslo, the route climbs high into the mountains and heads west towards the Atlantic Coast. On arrival at the town of Myrdal, we'll transfer to the Flam Railway--a miraculous piece of engineering and another scenic rail journey. This 45-minute trip takes us to the edge of the Sognefjord--the longest fjord in the world. We'll board a ferry through the UNESCO-designated Naeroyfjord. Our hotel tonight is in Stalheim.

Day 4: Thursday, July

Your morning in Bergen is at leisure--explore the many shops and markets near the hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of the town has been organized. Bergen is the birthplace of composer Edvard Greig. We'll visit Troldhaugen and the Fantoft Stave Church.

In the late afternoon, our coach will bring us to the wharf where we'll board our Norwegian Coastal Voyage ship for a relaxed, memorable six-day cruise. While enjoying the many facilities of the NCV fleet, we'll travel through the fjords, stopping along the route and an opportunity to visit towns and areas not easily accessible except by sea.

Optional shore excursions are available throughout the cruise.

Day 6: Saturday, July 8^th

You'll awake in the morning to the first of many spectacular fjord landscapes. Today's optional shore excursion is along the dramatic Orneveien Road, taking the Eisdal/Linge ferry where you will enjoy incredible views of the Seven Sisters Waterfall.

Day 7: Sunday, July 9^th

Today our ship docks at Trondheim, the former capital of Norway. In the morning, a tour has been planned. In addition to a city tour taking in the main highlights of the town, we visit the Ringve Museum of Musical History. This 18th century manor house features an extensive collection of instrument, displayed in a series of 'composer'rooms which are furnished according to the time period and decor of each composer.

Day 8: Monday, July 10^th

Today we cross the Arctic Circle. There is an optional excursion to the Svartisen Glacier, second largest in Norway.

Day 9: Tuesday, July 11^th

Arrival in Tromso, commonly known as 'Paris of the North'. One of the town's highlights is the Arctic Cathedral which boasts one of Europe's largest stained glass windows.

Day 10: Wednesday, July 12^th

Today our ship takes us to the North Cape Plateau, the most northerly point in Europe. In the evening, the ship turns southeast as we sail towards the town of Kirkenes, our turnaround point of the voyage.

Day 11: Thursday, July 13^th

In the mid morning, we dock at Kirkenes where we disembark from our floating home. A coach will take us to the Kirkenes airport for the flight to Oslo. After checking into our hotel in Oslo, there will be time for another afternoon at leisure.

Day 12: Friday, July 14^th

You will have time in Oslo before we take our Atlantic Airways flight this evening to Torshavn and the Faroe Islands.

Day 13: Saturday, July 15^th

After breakfast, we'll have a full-day tour--a combination of sightseeing and visits to places related to Faroese wool and knitwear. We'll travel along the coast, through colourful villages, stopping at a spinning mill in Gota, Toting where Faroese and woolen garments and knitwear are produced and sold. Lunch will be served at the Cultural House in the village of Fuglafjordur. Our return journey to Torshavn takes us past Slaettarantindur, the highest mountain in the Faroes.

Day 14: Sunday, July 16^th

In the morning we'll visit Sirri, a shop selling Faroese-produced woolen garments and yarn. Sirri emphasizes that clothing be completely produced in the Faroes, from thread to button. The garments are machine-knitted or woven, then fulled according to traditional methods. Neither the wool nor the garments are dyed, and no two garments from Sirri are identical in colour.

Our afternoon Atlantic Airways flight takes us from the Faroes to Iceland and Rekjavik's Keflavik airport.

Day 15: Monday, July 17^th

After breakfast, a half-day tour of Reykjavik is planned. The city has been affectionately called the 'Biggest Little City in the World'. Our tour offers a comprehensive introduction to Reykjavik's past and present, and the city's main attractions will be visited by coach and on foot.

Your afternoon is free to further explore the city.

Day 16: Tuesday, July 18^th

Today a full-day tour has been planned and the stops will visit some of the most popular attractions in Iceland. We'll see the Geysir hot spring area and other sights in south Iceland. We'll also stop at thingborg and Alafoss, both home to makers of the finest Icelandic wool.

Day 17: Wednesday, July 19^th

Our last day in Iceland. We'll visit Blue Lagoon and a chance to relax in the hot springs before boarding our non-stop Icelandair flight back to Boston, with connections to our home cities.

Tour cost:
per person twin or double occupancy;

Included in the tour price:

• Trans-Atlantic airfare with Icelandair; Three additional flights;
• Hotel accommodation for nine nights in twin rooms, with ensuite facilities;
• Meals: breakfast each day; six lunches; ten dinners.
• Cruise for six nights; accommodation in an inside cabin with twin beds with ensuite facilities;
• Tours as detailed in the itinerary;
• Train trip from Oslo to Bergen;
• Transfers & porterage of one piece of luggage;
• Trip accompanied by an expert knitter and professional tour escort;
•  Much, much more!

Options: (Please contact us for details)

• Cabin upgrades available - rates depending on size and location;
• Land price available, exclusive of trans-Atlantic airfare;

Not included in the tour price:

• Airline taxes & government fees;
• Optional travel insurance.
   

Accommodations:
All accommodation is in centrally-located hotels, with twin-bedded rooms with ensuite facilities. On board the ship, there is a choice of both inside and outside cabins, again with ensuite facilities.

Deposits Required:
Immediate Deposit:
You can secure your place on this unique tour, by immediately sending a deposit of  $1000.00 CAD ($920 USD) per person.

• Early registration will help assure your first choice in terms of accommodation options.

Cancellation: Should you cancel between January 1, 2006 and April 5, 2006 your deposit will be forfeited. All cancellations are only considered to have been received on the date of receipt of written cancellation in the office of Conference World Tours.

• Registrations will be accepted up until March 31, 2006 provided that a full, non-refundable deposit accompanies the fully completed registration form.

• The balance of the total trip price (non-refundable) will be due
  April 5, 2006

• The quoted tour price is based on total trip registrations meeting a minimum number of 20 participants by March 31, 2006. We reserve the right to cancel the trip should registrations not meet this minimum by the end of March 2006.

• In the event of insufficient registration as of March 31, 2006 resulting in the postponement of the trip, all deposits received will be refunded.

For more information please email me by  clicking here!

Registration Notes:
The absolute deadline for registration is March 31, 2006. If you are serious about participating in the trip, please register as soon as possible before March 31, 2006 to assure maximum choice in accommodation options. Late requests for accommodation upgrades may not be feasible.

• The quoted tour price is based on total trip registrations meeting a minimum number of 20 participants. We reserve the right to cancel the trip should registrations not meet this minimum by March 31, 2006.

The quoted tour price does not include airline fees and government taxes, some lunches and dinners, travel insurance, and items of a personal nature.

Questions?  Please contact us